My baby brother proposed to his wonderful girlfriend of almost 7 years while on the beach in the Dominican Republic on spring break last week. THRILLING! (He will *always* be my baby brother though!)
Monday, March 15, 2010
Engaged!
My baby brother proposed to his wonderful girlfriend of almost 7 years while on the beach in the Dominican Republic on spring break last week. THRILLING! (He will *always* be my baby brother though!)
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The Great? Outdoors
Well, I went for it. Early this morning I did my very first walk/run outside. It was not perhaps the best day weather-wise to move out of my comfort zone of a gym treadmill, but it was an eye-opener to say the very least!
A couple of days ago a new runner friend (Stephan) told me about the Budd Coates 5K Program. It's basically the Couch To 5K deal, only you train for four days of the week instead of three. Some may think me crazy, but I actually prefer doing four days. I'm just anal enough that I feel 'lazy' if I'm doing a three day week and take more days 'off' than what I'm working out.
So I decided to start over at the very beginning. (A very good place to start, so sayeth Maria VonTrapp! *Haha! Groan*) I probably could have skipped to the 2nd week, but when it's all said and done, I want to be able to say that I've finished a 'full' program. I had originally planned to do my regular treadmill thing and was actually looking forward to it, but couldn't sleep this morning, so I decided to go for it- new program, new environment.
This morning was 40 degrees, drizzly and kinda windy. (Yup. Real smart, newbie.) I suited up in sweats and mittens and headed out as soon as it was light. After a five minute walking warm-up, I moved into the intervals of Week 1: 2 min running followed by 4 min of walking (repeated 5x). To say I had somehow not prepared myself mentally for the change in terrain and weather would be an understatement. The first two minutes of running were brutal with a capital bru! My mind: "I have four MORE of these to go?! Man, it's cold out here! This wind stuff hurts my lungs! Whoa, that worm was HUGE, it looks like a family of worms glued themselves together and said "Come on gang, let's slither to town as a team!""
Well, all drama aside, I managed to get through all five intervals. I won't lie, I strategically maneuvered myself to level streets during the running and I was by no means fast. (Not that it was the goal or anything!) And though it wasn't, a lot of the running felt like it was *this shy* of being considered walking. At one particular point when I thought I was going to keel over, my music switched to an awesome techno version of 'O Fortuna' from Carmina Burana. I normally love this track because it's placed in my mix at a point where I'm usually feeling really strong. (Ahem, when I'm on a treadmill.) Today it just mocked me, as did Michael Jackson. "You wanna be startin' something? You got to be startin' something! You wanna be? You gotta be!" etc etc etc.
Riiiiiight, MJ.
Well, not yet anyway. :)
A couple of days ago a new runner friend (Stephan) told me about the Budd Coates 5K Program. It's basically the Couch To 5K deal, only you train for four days of the week instead of three. Some may think me crazy, but I actually prefer doing four days. I'm just anal enough that I feel 'lazy' if I'm doing a three day week and take more days 'off' than what I'm working out.
So I decided to start over at the very beginning. (A very good place to start, so sayeth Maria VonTrapp! *Haha! Groan*) I probably could have skipped to the 2nd week, but when it's all said and done, I want to be able to say that I've finished a 'full' program. I had originally planned to do my regular treadmill thing and was actually looking forward to it, but couldn't sleep this morning, so I decided to go for it- new program, new environment.
This morning was 40 degrees, drizzly and kinda windy. (Yup. Real smart, newbie.) I suited up in sweats and mittens and headed out as soon as it was light. After a five minute walking warm-up, I moved into the intervals of Week 1: 2 min running followed by 4 min of walking (repeated 5x). To say I had somehow not prepared myself mentally for the change in terrain and weather would be an understatement. The first two minutes of running were brutal with a capital bru! My mind: "I have four MORE of these to go?! Man, it's cold out here! This wind stuff hurts my lungs! Whoa, that worm was HUGE, it looks like a family of worms glued themselves together and said "Come on gang, let's slither to town as a team!""
Well, all drama aside, I managed to get through all five intervals. I won't lie, I strategically maneuvered myself to level streets during the running and I was by no means fast. (Not that it was the goal or anything!) And though it wasn't, a lot of the running felt like it was *this shy* of being considered walking. At one particular point when I thought I was going to keel over, my music switched to an awesome techno version of 'O Fortuna' from Carmina Burana. I normally love this track because it's placed in my mix at a point where I'm usually feeling really strong. (Ahem, when I'm on a treadmill.) Today it just mocked me, as did Michael Jackson. "You wanna be startin' something? You got to be startin' something! You wanna be? You gotta be!" etc etc etc.
Riiiiiight, MJ.
Well, not yet anyway. :)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Random Thoughts
This morning Max and I headed to the gym to swim during the early morning open swim hours. We left the house at 8, arrived by 8:25, suited up and took a (cold) shower by 8:35 and walked out of the locker room to the pool... the pool that is currently closed during spring break for cleaning. Um, whoops. So we took a nice (warm) shower, got dressed and Max went to play in the daycare room while I worked out.
As we were *leaving* I noticed a big fat sign on the front door saying "Therapy pool closed this week for cleaning". For real. Not sure how I missed it on the way in?! What can I say? I walk with purpose. Perhaps we'll try the other branch for swimming this afternoon, but I think I'll call to make sure it's open first.
Last night I had a dream that my tour buddy Devin and I were on a gold medal winning Olympic hockey team. (I don't remember which country we were playing for.) We had rehearsal for a show that night (apparently after we'd won the medals), so we wore them to rehearsal. We were the most badass drummer & keyboardist EVER.
It actually feels like spring this week! Our trusty outdoor thermometer is currently showing 60 degrees and it's sunny and amazing. This makes me gleeful!
I love that Elmo's pet fish is named Dorothy. Cracks me up.
Two of my online 'Mom Friends' (Colleen & Meredith) are running a 15K this weekend. They're my heroes.
Elephunk's mini-me has been named Elephink. :)
My cousin Matt and his wife own a cupcake business in Brooklyn. Not sure why I torture myself (and you guys!), but here's some of their latest flavors:
'Chocolate Turtle': Chocolate cake w/salted caramel buttercream, candied pecans, ganache & caramel drizzle
'Butterbeer': Vanilla cake soaked w/homemade butterscotch, butterscotch buttercream & edible gold dust
'Chocolate Grasshopper': Mint chocolate-chocolate chip cake w/mint buttercream and crushed chocolate
Note: I feel like I should go work out again after just typing all of that!
As we were *leaving* I noticed a big fat sign on the front door saying "Therapy pool closed this week for cleaning". For real. Not sure how I missed it on the way in?! What can I say? I walk with purpose. Perhaps we'll try the other branch for swimming this afternoon, but I think I'll call to make sure it's open first.
Last night I had a dream that my tour buddy Devin and I were on a gold medal winning Olympic hockey team. (I don't remember which country we were playing for.) We had rehearsal for a show that night (apparently after we'd won the medals), so we wore them to rehearsal. We were the most badass drummer & keyboardist EVER.
It actually feels like spring this week! Our trusty outdoor thermometer is currently showing 60 degrees and it's sunny and amazing. This makes me gleeful!
I love that Elmo's pet fish is named Dorothy. Cracks me up.
Two of my online 'Mom Friends' (Colleen & Meredith) are running a 15K this weekend. They're my heroes.
Elephunk's mini-me has been named Elephink. :)
My cousin Matt and his wife own a cupcake business in Brooklyn. Not sure why I torture myself (and you guys!), but here's some of their latest flavors:
'Chocolate Turtle': Chocolate cake w/salted caramel buttercream, candied pecans, ganache & caramel drizzle
'Butterbeer': Vanilla cake soaked w/homemade butterscotch, butterscotch buttercream & edible gold dust
'Chocolate Grasshopper': Mint chocolate-chocolate chip cake w/mint buttercream and crushed chocolate
Note: I feel like I should go work out again after just typing all of that!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Baby (Running) Steps
Last week I started (loosely) following the Couch To 5K running program. The goal of the program is to get anyone up and running a 5K (equivalent to 30 minutes) in 9 weeks.
I've never been an athlete, much less a runner. Since joining the Y a month ago, however, I've been making a concerted effort to get to the gym at least 4 days a week. Michael, Max and I passed around sickness for a week (this was two weeks ago) and I didn't get to the gym at all. I'd been on a pretty good 'roll' at that point and had a bit of trouble getting back into the swing of things after the sickness lifted. I think I more or less just tried to do too much too soon. My friend Anne recommended switching between 1 min of walking and 1 min of running and it was definitely the key! (I didn't know it at the time, but this routine was the first week of C25K.) The first day of it ended up being one of my best workouts ever. I felt so strong and didn't dread looking at the clock to switch to running anymore!
This week was the start of Week 2 of the program. Having asked some running friends (read: friends who can run waaay longer than I can!) for their advice, I decided to repeat the Week 1 because I was feeling so good about it. I won't be crying if I'm not running a 5K in 9 weeks and am not putting limitations on myself in that respect, so I didn't have any problems with repeating the 1 min run/walk intervals.
Tonight I realized that though I'd love to have a partner to work out with eventually, it's probably best that I do it on my own right now because I'm my own worst enemy. (This can be both good and bad) Only a couple minutes into my warm-up I thought "I don't know if I can do this today", but kept going because heck, I was already at the gym and ON the treadmill. I planned to do 30 min of 1min run/walk, but then started feeling guilty that I wasn't going to make any 'progress' this week unless I went either a) longer or b) faster. So I ended up doing 35min of 1:30min run and 1min walk. I always psych myself out, but then end up feeling really good by about 20 min. I almost went for 40min, but decided to not push the envelope.
So although I spend a lot of my workouts 'arguing' with myself, I'm also allowing myself to think happy thoughts! I'm proud that...
- I've been doing the equivalent of running at least 1 mile each day (+ walking) and that my legs are tightening up
- Even though it sometimes takes mentally beating myself up, that I haven't given up and gotten off the treadmill on the days I feel like I can't do it
- I can now run for the longest lengths of time in years, even if it's with a minute of walking in between
Next up: conquering my fear of running in the great outdoors and not having the clock on the treadmill to rely on!
I've never been an athlete, much less a runner. Since joining the Y a month ago, however, I've been making a concerted effort to get to the gym at least 4 days a week. Michael, Max and I passed around sickness for a week (this was two weeks ago) and I didn't get to the gym at all. I'd been on a pretty good 'roll' at that point and had a bit of trouble getting back into the swing of things after the sickness lifted. I think I more or less just tried to do too much too soon. My friend Anne recommended switching between 1 min of walking and 1 min of running and it was definitely the key! (I didn't know it at the time, but this routine was the first week of C25K.) The first day of it ended up being one of my best workouts ever. I felt so strong and didn't dread looking at the clock to switch to running anymore!
This week was the start of Week 2 of the program. Having asked some running friends (read: friends who can run waaay longer than I can!) for their advice, I decided to repeat the Week 1 because I was feeling so good about it. I won't be crying if I'm not running a 5K in 9 weeks and am not putting limitations on myself in that respect, so I didn't have any problems with repeating the 1 min run/walk intervals.
Tonight I realized that though I'd love to have a partner to work out with eventually, it's probably best that I do it on my own right now because I'm my own worst enemy. (This can be both good and bad) Only a couple minutes into my warm-up I thought "I don't know if I can do this today", but kept going because heck, I was already at the gym and ON the treadmill. I planned to do 30 min of 1min run/walk, but then started feeling guilty that I wasn't going to make any 'progress' this week unless I went either a) longer or b) faster. So I ended up doing 35min of 1:30min run and 1min walk. I always psych myself out, but then end up feeling really good by about 20 min. I almost went for 40min, but decided to not push the envelope.
So although I spend a lot of my workouts 'arguing' with myself, I'm also allowing myself to think happy thoughts! I'm proud that...
- I've been doing the equivalent of running at least 1 mile each day (+ walking) and that my legs are tightening up
- Even though it sometimes takes mentally beating myself up, that I haven't given up and gotten off the treadmill on the days I feel like I can't do it
- I can now run for the longest lengths of time in years, even if it's with a minute of walking in between
Next up: conquering my fear of running in the great outdoors and not having the clock on the treadmill to rely on!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Pinch Hitter
One of my college roommates, Calley, gave Max the big stuffed elephant (above) as a gift when he was born. 'Elephunk' has since become his comfort toy. One night a couple months ago we stayed at my brother-in-law's place, but forgot Elephunk at Nana's house an hour away. We tried to put Max down to bed (hoping he'd forget), but he wasn't having it. Not without my elephant! Michael finally ended up driving back to retrieve it and as soon as he walked back in the front door and picked Max up, he was asleep on his shoulder. Elephunk's selling point is that he has a tail that Max can hold as he sucks his thumb.
Shortly after that event, I broke down and asked Cal where she'd gotten the elephant in hopes of getting a 'back up'. Unfortunately, the store no longer sold them. Max & I were at Barnes & Noble this afternoon and found the smaller elephant above in the kids section. His eyes lit up as soon as he saw it, so I checked the texture (same as Elephunk's! And it has a tail!) and the rest was history. Little Dude was thrilled.
Finally! We have another elephant to keep Max distracted so we can wash Elephunk! Now we just need to name the little one... Phunkarella? Ella?
18 Months
Can it be that Mister Man is really a year and a half old today?! We're celebrating with homemade cheese muffins. :)
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